The music on these tracks were written, recorded and produced during September 2012. The rhythms however, are the tight vibrant beats of Streetwise Samba based in Belfast, and the fact that an album has suddenly been created is something of a surprise, as I was sent the percussion tracks as inspiration for creating brass lines - in the context of coming up with music that would be playable along the line, out in the streets..

Making original street music to perform- and creating a form that would have elements of the ethos of samba, along with ways of making playing the music an exciting and stimulating experience for all those playing - was something I'd been interested in for the last year or so and I'd been experimenting with different ways of working. I didn't want to write music that would never be played live, and I didn't necessarily want to write tracks that I would have to hustle to get into a band's repertoire (not that there are many such bands). To hook up with a samba band who were actively interested in the idea of adding brass was a great opportunity which is why I was so inspired having received 6 tracks to do them all practically at one sitting, but this is s great way to work!

I wanted to create music that was in the main original (perhaps drawing on things, or quoting other music, but being "new" in other ways and fresh in the sense of deliberately incorporating elements that would mean the music has an organic element - it can respond to all the things that can (and should) change so hopefully it will be always slightly different and always fun to participate in.

At it's heart it has the ethos of inclusivity: the opportunity for all levels of musician to come together - which is why some lines are very straightforward (like a percussion line), whilst others can be taken as a template. Also, to keep the emphasis on the here and now, it's an "off the page" experience - riffs that are easy to memorise, with the emphasis on rhythm, energy, movement, and responding to what's happening now.


I hope you enjoy these tracks..